Automated lockout system for header
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsShreyas P. Modak, Alex A. Brimeyer, Michael L. Vandeven
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for automatically configuring a cutterbar between a flexible configuration and a rigid configuration in response to actuation of a gauge wheel are disclosed. The cutterbar is coupled to the gauge wheel such that extension of the gauge wheel causes the cutterbar to move into the rigid configuration and retraction of the gauge wheel causes the cutterbar to move into the flexible configuration.
Claims19
A system for automatically configuring a cutterbar of an agricultural implement comprising:
- a cutterbar;
- a float arm engaged with the cutterbar;
- a gauge wheel assembly;
- and
- an actuation system that connects the float arm and the gauge wheel, the float arm movable, via the actuation system, in response to retraction or extension of the gauge wheel to move the cutterbar between a rigid configuration and a flexible configuration, the actuation system comprising:
- a rocker arm comprising a pin and pivotable about a first axis, the rocker arm coupled to the float arm;
- a retainer comprising:
- a recess that releasably receives the pin to selectively lock the pin into the recess;
- and
- a protrusion;
- and
- a cam coupled to the gauge wheel assembly, the cam moveable with the gauge wheel assembly to selectively engage the protrusion of the retainer to move the retainer between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration.
A method for moving a cutterbar of an agricultural implement between a rigid configuration and a flexible configuration in response to articulation of a gauge wheel of the agricultural implement between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, the method comprising:
- extending or retracting the gauge wheel of the agricultural implement;
- and
- simultaneously moving the cutterbar relative to a frame of the agricultural implement into the flexible configuration in response to retraction of the gauge wheel or simultaneously moving the cutterbar relative to the frame of the agricultural implement into the rigid configuration by an actuation system that is operated in response to extension of the gauge wheel;
- wherein the actuation system comprises:
- a rocker arm comprising a pin and pivotable about a first axis, the rocker arm coupled to a float arm;
- a retainer comprising:
- a recess that releasably receives the pin to selectively lock the pin into the recess;
- and
- a protrusion;
- and
- a cam coupled to the gauge wheel, the cam moveable with the gauge wheel assembly to selectively engage the protrusion of the retainer to move the retainer between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration.
An agricultural implement that automatically configures a cutterbar between a rigid configuration and a flexible configuration, the agricultural implement comprising:
- a frame;
- a gauge wheel assembly coupled to the frame and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position;
- a float arm pivotably coupled to the frame;
- a cutterbar engaged with the float arm, the cutterbar moveable between the rigid configuration and the flexible configuration in response to rotation of the float arm;
- and
- an actuation system that connects the float arm and the gauge wheel assembly, the float arm movable, via the actuation system, in response to retraction or extension of the gauge wheel to move the cutterbar between the rigid configuration and the flexible configuration, the actuation system comprising:
- a rocker arm comprising a pin and pivotable about a first axis, the rocker arm coupled to the float arm;
- a retainer comprising:
- a recess that releasably receives the pin to selectively lock the pin into the recess;
- and
- a protrusion;
- and
- a cam coupled to the gauge wheel assembly, the cam moveable in response to movement of the gauge wheel assembly to selectively engage the protrusion of the retainer to move the retainer between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.